District os coltthbia



E. J. W. RAGSDA-LE,

HAND GRENADE; APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, IQ G- RENEWED JAN. l8, l9l7- W FEE 55 Patented June 17, 1919.

"3' SHEETSSHEE1: 1. A

E. J. W. RAGSDALE.

HAND GRENADE.

( AFPLICA'HON FILED MAY 25; l9l6- RENEWED IAN. I8. 1917.

Patented June 17, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- E. J. W. RAGSDALE.

HAND GR'ENADE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25. 1916. RENEWED JAN. 18.1911.

Patented June 17, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES: PATENT OFFICE. V

J. W. RAGSDALE, OF THE UNITED STATES ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES ORDINANCE COMPANY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or VIRGINIA.

.HAND-GRENADE.

' To all 'whom it may concern:

.the grenade leaves the hand.

Be it known that I, EARL J. W. RAGSDALE, a lieutenant in the United States Army, at.

present stationed in the city of Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grenades; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,.clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and'use the same.

My invention relates to hand grenades.

Broadly speaking, it is the purpose of my invention to reduce the danger of premature explosion in handling and throwing gre-.

nades by providing an improved safety device for normally holding the firing mechabeing so arranged and positioned as to be directlyengaged and actuated by the hand in the act of throwing the grenade.

Furthermore, it is my purpose to provide a safety device for grenades the construction and arrangement of which is such that the gripping action of the hand during the first portion of the throwing movement tends to force the safety device in a direction opposite toits release movement and thereby intensify its safety characteristicsf while release movement of the device is effective by the natural or involuntary tendency of the hand to rotate thegrenade at the termination of the act of throwing so that .the release of the safety device can only dccur as More specifically it is my purpose to provide a safety device for the firing inechaj nism of grenades inthe form of a restraining detent which isremovably engaged with plied to a hand the body of the grenade and so positioned andconstructed as to be involuntarily withdrawn from the grenade by one or more fingers as thegrenade leaves the hand in the act of throwing same.

I will disclose my invention in the best forms known to me at present and as apgrenade employing a time firing mechanism, but that theinvention can be applied to grenades of the impact type and that it is susceptible to changes in forms and proportions and to Specification of Letters Patent.

Hand-- 1 formed in the body "or plug [its other end reduced and engage it will be apparent- Renewed January 18, 1917. I Serial No. 143,186.

. desirable additions with the exercise of only' Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my improved grenade, the firing mechanism bemg in restrained or inactive position;

Fig. 2, a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a view looking atthe top of Fig. 1 w1th the spring cover .for the fuse cavityin open. posltlon; I

Fig. 4, a'view looking ,at the right hand side of Fig. 1;

5, asection on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

F1gs. 6, 7 and 8 are perspective views showmg successive conditions existing in throwing the grenade; Fig. 9, a longitudinal section of a grenade shoiwing a modified form of my invention, Fig. 10, a view-looking at the right hand side of Fig. 9.

Referring to the draw-ings' and particu- Patented June 17, 1919.

OF COLUMBIA, A CORPORATION larly to Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive A indicates the other end of said chamber is connected by a passage 12 with one end of a recess 13 A and extending longitudinally of the latter. The other end of the recess 13 is connected with the chamber 10 by a passage 14 and this passage alines with an o ning 15 in the opposite wall of the body The wall of the body A is also provided with an opening 16 closed by a cap 17 and through whichopening' the chamber 10 is supplied with the necessary charge of explosive. A tubular member 18 has one end threaded in the openin' 15 and in the passage 14. Disposed within the member 18 is another tubular member" 19 one end of which is engaged in the reduced portion of the member 18 while its other end is supported by a disk 20 mounted in the member' 18. A suitable booster charge 18' is carried;

by the member 18 and surrounds the memberl9. Before throwinglthe grenade a det-- onator 21 is inserted in t e bore of the member 19 through the opening 15 and the latter is then closed by a cap or plug 22 threaded therein and which has a reduced extension 23 projecting into the adjacent end of the member 19. Mounted in the recess 13 in line withthe chamber 11 is a container 24 carrying a friction primer 25. This conto the .detonator 21. The body A is provided with an annular fl-ange'or nipple 28 disposed concentric with respect to the chamber 11 and interrupted by the. recess 13. Threaded on this flange is closing cap 29 which is applied after the 27 and the firing mechanism of the grenade are inserted in the body. This cap 29 serves to lock a spring cover 30 in place in covering relation to the recess 13. One end of this spring. cover 30 is secured to the body A by a pin 31 which permits pivoting of the cover. The free. end of the cover is reduced as at 32 and is engageable between the ends of the flange 28 to hold the cover against pivotal movement. To open the cover itis necessary to first remove the cap 29 and then spring the free end of the cover outwardly to disengage same from the flange when itcan be moved to the position shown in Fig. 3 to permit the insertion of the necessary parts in the body A. It will be noted that the cover 30 is narrower than the recess 13 so that when the cover is closed a suitable vent is provided to permit the proper burning of the fuse 27. Slida-bly mounted in the passage 12 is a firing rod 33 Which carries on the end thereof disposed within the chamber 11' a head 34. The end of the rod 33 remote from the. head 34 is embedded in-the friction primer 25 and provided with serrations 35 whereby sudden longitudinal movement of the rod 33 in the direction of the open end of the cavity 11 will ignite the friction primer 25 and this will in-turn ignite the time fuse 27 to explode the grenade. Slid'ably'mounted in the cavity 11 is a plunger 36 having an axial passage 37 through which the rod 33 slides. This plunger is normally urged in the direction of thehead 34 by a'spring 38 and is restrained or held inactive by a detent B. This .detent is substantially U-shaped and includes arms 39 and 40 and an arm connecting portion-41. The free ends of the arms 39 and 40 are contracted and removrespectively 1 the arms '39 ably engaged in recesses 42 formed in the body A. When tive position'until the detent B is withdrawn. A removable safety pin 44 bridges the cavity 11 and is disposed'in the path of movement of the rod 33 so as to prevent any firing movement of said-rod until said pin is withdrawn ju-st previous to throwing the grenade. It will be'observed that a relatively large portion of the detent is disposed eX-teriorly of the body A and to prevent accidental disengagement of the detent guard .ears45 are formed on the body A and disposed on either side of the detent.

In throwing the grenade the safety pin 44 is first removed and the grenade gripped in the-hand with one or more fingers bearing against the arm connecting portion 41 of the detent B as shown in Fig. 6. WVhen so held the gripping action of the hand tends to force the detent B in a direction opposite to the movement necessary to effect its Withdrawal and in this Way I intensify the safety characteristics of the detent by involuntary conditions existing-in the first portion of the act of throwing the grenade. WVhen the arm reaches the limit of its throwmg movement the hand and the grenade will assume the relation shown in Fig. 7, the finger engaging-beneath the arm connecting por tion 41. In this status the grenade has just been whipped or released from the hand and engage the head 34 and plunger 36 to hold the firing mechanism inactive. The other arm 47 of the sear C engages in an opening 48 of 'a spring trigger arm 49 mounted on the body of the grenade and when said arm 47 is thus engaged 1t will be obvious that pivotal movement of the sear C to release the firing mechanism is impossible. A removable safetyp-in 50 is mounted in the body A and cooperates with the arm 46 or" the sear to also'hold the latter against pivotal movement. This pin 50 is withdrawn just previous to throwing the grenade.

In throwlng-the grenade constructed as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 a'finger of the hand is engaged over the free end of the spring trlgger arm 49 and as a result of the natural tendency to rotate the grenade as it leaves the hand said trigger ,Will be flexed so as to disengage same from the arm 47 and thus. release the firing mechanism of the grenade for automatic action. It Wlll also be observed that the gripping action of the.

hand during thefirst portion of the act of throwing will tend to force the trigger 49.

, in a direction opposite to its release movement and thus intensifythe safety characteristics thereof.

It willbe noted I have previously stated that theinvention can be applied to grenades of the impact type. In grenades of this type the actual operation of the firing mechanism does not take place until the 1mpact'of the grenade against an object occurs. In other words, up to the moment of impact, the firing mechanism of the grenade is simply armed. When the invention by the tendency to rotate the grenade 1n the act-of throwing the same to permit activity of the firing mechanism I mean that such activity of the firing-mechanism may occur immediately upon the release of the safety device or may occur at a subsequent time when the grenade strikes an object.

I claim 1'. In a grenade, the combination of Y a body, a firing mechanism carried by the body, asafety device normally locking the firing mechanism against activity and releasable "by the tendency to rotate the grenade 1n the act of throwing the same to permit activity-of the firing mechanism.

' 2. In a grenade, the combination of a body,

' a firing -mechanism carried by the body, and

a releasable safety device normally holding the firing mechanism inactive, said device .50 Y release movement by the .the hand and involuntarily moved by the hand in the act of throwing the grenade being forced in the directionopposite to its firing mechanism for activity.

to release the enade, the combination of a 3.Ina

'body, a firing mechanism carried by the body, and a safety device normally holding the firing mechanism inactive and operated by the hand in the act of throwing the grenade to release the firing mechanism for subsequent activity, the relation of the hand with respect to the safety device jduring the initial portions of the act of throwing bering inoperative, and said relation lnvolun tarily becoming operative during the fin'al .ing w gripping action of portions of the act of throwing whereby said safety device is released by the movement of the grenade away from the hand.

4. In a y, body, anda safety device, said safety enade, the combination of a a firing mechanism carried by the e.-

vice including a detent normally locking.

the device in position to maintain the firing mechanism inactive, said detent being operated by the hand in the act of throwing the grenade to release the safety device and permit activity of the firing mechanism, the relation of the hand with respect to the detent during the initial portions. of the act of throwing being inoperative, and said relation involuntarily becoming operative duringlthe final portions of the act of throwlease the safety device by movement of the grenade away fromthe hand.

5. In a hand grenade, the combination of a body, a firing mechanism carried by the body, and a safety device normally holding thefiring mechanism inactive and operated by'the hand to release the firing mechanism in the act of throwing the grenade, the relation of the hand with respect to the safety device durin the initial portions of the act of throwing ein inoperative, and said relation involuntari y becoming operative during thefinal portions of the act of throwing whereby said safety device is released by the (imovement of the grenade away from the an 6. In a hand grenade, the combination of a body, a firing mechanism carried by the body, and a detent normally holding the firing mechanism inactive and operated by the hand to release the firing mechanism in the act ofthrowing the grenade, the relation of the hand with respect to the detent duri the initial portions of the act of throwingbeing inoperative, and said relation involuntarily becoming operative during thefinal portions of theact of throwing whereby said detent is operated to release the firing mechanism by the movement of the grenade away from the hand.

7. In a hand grenade, the combination of a body, a firing mechanism carried-by the body, and a safety device normally holding the firing mechanism inactive and actuated to release the firing mechanism'by the tendereby said detent is operated to re-v ency of the hand to rotate the grenade in the I act of throwing v same.

8; In a hand grenade, the combination of a b0dy, a firing mechanism carried by the body, and a releasable safety device normally holding the firing mechanism inactive, saiddevice being forced in a direction'opposite to its release movement by the gripping action of the hand and involuntarily moved by the hand in the act of throwing the gre nade to release the firing mechanism.

9. In a hand grenade, the combination of a body, afiring mechanism carried by the .body, and a releasable safety device normally holding the firing mechanism inactive, said device being forced in a direction opposite to its release movement by the gripplng action of the hand during the initial portion of the act of throwing the grenade and involuntarily moved by the hand during the final portion of the act of throwing to release the firing mechanism.

'10. In a hand grenade, the combination of a body, a firing mechanism carried by the body, and a detent removably engaged with the body and normally holding the firing mechanism-inactive, said detent being withdrawn from the body to release the firing mechanism by the natural tendency of the hand to rotate the grenade in the act of throwing same. v 11. In a' hand grenade, the combination of a body, a firing mechanism carried by the body, and a detent removably engaged with the body' and normally holding the firing mechanism inactive, saidideten't being forced in a direction opposite to its withdrawing movement by the gripping action of the hand during the initial portion of the act of throwing the grenade and involuntarily withdrawn from the body to release the firing mechanism by thehand during the final portion of the act of throwing.

12. In a hand grenade, the combination of a body, afiring mechanism carried by the body, and a U-shaped detent having its arms removably engaged with the body and detachably interlocked with the firing mechanism to hold the latter in inactive position,

the arm connecting portion of said detent being engaged by certain fingers of the hand whereby the natural tendency to rotate the grenade when throwing same will cause said fingers to engage beneath the 'arm connecting portion and withdraw the detent as the grenade leaves the hand. I

13. In a hand grenade, the combination of a body, a firing mechanism carried by the body and including a spring impelledfiring member, anda detent removably engaged with the body and detachably interlocked with the member to hold the latter ing mechanism inactive and moved to release the firing mechanism by the tendency of the hand to rotate the grenade in .the act of throwing same.

In testimony whereof I aflix signature, I

in the presence of two witnesses.

' EARL 'J. w. RAGSDALE.

Witnesses:

J NO. J. 0001:, NATHAN HAZEN. 

